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US probes bombing accident
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THE controller who cleared a Navy pilot to release the bombs that killed six people in the Kuwaiti desert was an Air Force enlisted man seriously injured in the accident, officials said on Wednesday.
The US Central Command, which is responsible for US military operations in the Persian Gulf area, said a military investigation team headed by a three-star general was expected to arrive in Kuwait yesterday to begin interviews. The team has been instructed to complete its investigation by April 16.
The remains of the five American servicemen and one New Zealand military officer killed in the accident were due to arrive at Ramstein Air Base in Germany yesterday, Central Command said. Military honors will be rendered.
Central Command said Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Crusing was the ``forward air controller'' responsible for directing the Navy pilot to his bomb targets, which were more than one mile from the observation post where Crusing and about 19 other military personnel were situated when the bombs struck.
The Air Force said Crusing is a tactical air controller with the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron based at Fort Campbell, Ky. On Tuesday, he was listed in stable condition at a hospital.
Officials have said it is unclear whether the bombing accident resulted from mistakes by the Navy pilot or the air controller, or both.(SD-Agencies)
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